The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has announced a forthcoming crackdown on tax defaulters, starting after June 21, 2024. This action aligns with Section 80 of the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915), which classifies non-compliance with tax obligations as an offence.
To recover outstanding tax arrears, the GRA will initiate a debt collection exercise targeting all taxpayers, including public institutions with outstanding tax liabilities. The GRA has urged all tax defaulters to settle their arrears or make satisfactory arrangements to fulfil their tax obligations.
In an official statement, the GRA emphasized the seriousness of the situation:
“The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) wishes to inform its clients, especially registered taxpayers, that it is embarking on a debt collection exercise to recover outstanding tax debts. This exercise will cover all taxpayers, including public institutions with outstanding tax liabilities. All taxpayers are advised to immediately make payments by either cash or cheque at the twenty-three designated banks, the Ghana.gov platform, via USSD code *222#, or make other satisfactory arrangements to pay all outstanding tax arrears,” the statement stated.
“We also remind all tax debtors that failure to pay tax by the due date is an offence under Section 80 of the Revenue Administration Act, 2016 (Act 915). The Commissioner-General will therefore use all available enforcement tools to retrieve tax debts that remain unpaid after Friday, 21st June 2024. We therefore entreat all taxpayers to take note and be guided accordingly,” the statement read.
The GRA has previously conducted several revenue mobilization exercises to retrieve debts.
Earlier this year, the agency announced plans to encourage voluntary compliance with tax obligations as part of its strategy to meet its revenue target of GH¢146 billion for 2024.
